Fruit-gatherer.



J. N. SWEENEY.

FRUIT GATHERER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1912.

1,070,204. Patented Aug; 12,1913

JOHN NOEL SWEENEY, OF BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY.

FRUIT-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1912.

Serial No. 715,455.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN N. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of arren and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Gatherer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fruit gatherers, and my object is to provide a device of this class which will be simple, cheap, and durable, and one that is thoroughly adapted to perform the work required of such a device.

The invention consists in certain novel parts and combinations as will be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device in its open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in its closed position, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the movable or pivoted section of the gatherer proper.

The principal parts of the device are the fixed section A, the movable section B, and the handle C. The fixed section A is formed of a small metallic rod bent at its center to form the circular portion 1, and then the two parallel portions 2, the hinge coils 3, and the two parallel portions a which take into the handle of the device, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The bag or fruit receptacle 5 is suitably secured to the circular portion 1; and the parallel sections 2 are held against spreading by means of the band 6. The movable or pivoted section B of my device is also formed of a small metallic rod, and is provided at its forward end with a circular portion 7 of a diameter to be loosely received into the circular portion 1 of the fixed sec tion. At the rear side of the circular portion 7, one end of the rod is bent around the other forming the coils 8, and then ex tending upwardly forming the section 9 which terminates in a loop 10. The other end of the rod extending rearwardly from the circular portion 7 is successively bent to form the portions 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The portion 11 is disposed at an angle to the general longitudinal extent of the section B, while the portion 12 is at a right angle to the general longitudinal extent of said section. The portions 13 and 15 extend in the same direction but are not in alinement with each other, the portion 15 being dis posed in a line passing through the center of the circular portion 7, and the portion 13 being to one side of this line, but in the same horizontal plane with the portion 7. The portion 16 terminates at its rear end in a loop 16.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the portion 12 of the movable section B of my device is received into the coils 3 of the fixed section, which coils cooperate with said portion 12 to form a hinge connection between the fixed and movable sections.

Theportion 7 of my device carries a filling 7 of cloth, which portion together with said filling may betermed the lid of the dev1ce.

l/Vhen the parts are assembled in operative relation to each other, the angle at which the portion 11 is bent causes the lid to be centrally received within the portion 1 at the top of the net or fruit receptacle, and the bend 14 serves to bring the rear portion 15 of the movable section B, directly underneath the pole C, where it will be least in the way, and least liable to engage limbs etc, in the operation of the device.

The handle C of my device is formed in sections adapted to telescope one into an other, so that it may be lengthened and shortened at will.

In order to hold my device normally open I provide the tension spring 17, the upper end of which is secured to the loop 10, and the other end to the handle G at the point 18 as shown.

To the loop 16 at the lower end of the movable section B, is attached the operating cord 19, which terminates in the loop 20 adapted to receive the hand of the operator.

To hold the operating cord close to the handle to prevent it from getting entangled in the branches, I provide the cord supports 21 secured to the underside of the handle and adapted to loosely receive said cord.

In operation, my device is moved into position to bring an apple into the mouth of the fruit receptacle, whereupon a pull on the cord 19 will close the lid, and in doing so causes the covered portion 7 of said lid to bear sidewise against the stem of the fruit, and thereby easily detaches it from the limb.

The filling 7 of the lid being of cloth, prevents the lid from bruising the fruit even when the same is quite ripe, so that the fruit always comes from the tree in, prime condition.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

\Vhen the pull on the cord 19 is relaxed, the spring 17 will again open the lid ready for another operation.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as no" and desire to secure by Letters Patent is2- In fruit gatherers, a fixed section having parallel sections provided with coils opposite each other; and a movable section jl orined of a single piece of material extending in the same general direction as the fixed section and having an approximately centralv portion extending at right angles to the general longitudinal extent of the sec tion and passing through the coils of the fixed section to form hinge connection between the fixed and movable sections, said movable section hav ng a hoop at its forward end, and a portion extending rearwardly from one end of said intermediate portion to be engaged by an operating cord, and a portion extending forwardly from the other end of said intermediate portion and connecting the same with said hoop, said. connecting portion being inclined inwardly as it extends forwardly to bring its forward end to the longitudinal center of the section at the point where it merges into the hoop. JOHN NOEL SYVEENEY. Witnesses VmeiL GanviN, am na BOYD Games.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G. 

